The bridge building project should generally take seven to eight days to complete. The students will begin the assignment with a guided lecture that should take two days. During the lecture students will learn and create mind maps about the major bridge building concepts. When this is finished, a quiz will be given on the concepts.
After students have learned the concepts, they will spend a short time researching one of the four major types of bridges, creating their own mind maps (based on the modeling done during the previous days' conceptual lecture) of the bridge type they are assigned. Then, in groups and using a jigsaw activity, students will first solidify their own mind maps by comparing information with other students who researched the same type of bridge. Finally, they will get in mixed groups of four and learn from their peers about the other three types of bridges.
Students will next begin the design phase of the project during which will they draw four thumbnail sketches and one final design drawing. This is the point where students are paired up in groups of two to decide which final design they will build.
After the decision is made, they will start to construct their bridges using the materials provided by the teacher.
The construction phase of the bridge building project will take the most amount of time. Student will probably need five days to complete it. This may seem like a lot of time, but if the project is going as it should, students should be very engaged and interested in taking the time to build the best possible bridge.
The project will culminate with a competition day: students will put their bridges to the test to see whose can hold the most weight.
The bridge building webquest is a great unit for any technology teacher to use in his or her classroom. It's relatively easy to do in that the information is fairly straightforward and the necessary materials are minimal and fairly inexpensive. The students are always on task, and the lesson is broken up into segments so the students are doing something different every day or so except for during the construction of the bridge. Because the end result is a competition and students are invested in winning, the engagement factor is high.
The bridge building project should generally take seven to eight days to complete. The students will begin the assignment with a guided lecture that should take two days. During the lecture students will learn and create mind maps about the major bridge building concepts. When this is finished, a quiz will be given on the concepts.
After students have learned the concepts, they will spend a short time researching one of the four major types of bridges, creating their own mind maps (based on the modeling done during the previous days' conceptual lecture) of the bridge type they are assigned. Then, in groups and using a jigsaw activity, students will first solidify their own mind maps by comparing information with other students who researched the same type of bridge. Finally, they will get in mixed groups of four and learn from their peers about the other three types of bridges.
Students will next begin the design phase of the project during which will they draw four thumbnail sketches and one final design drawing. This is the point where students are paired up in groups of two to decide which final design they will build.
After the decision is made, they will start to construct their bridges using the materials provided by the teacher.
Student materials:
60 pieces of basswood
1 basswood cutter
Glue Gun
String
Rubber bands
The construction phase of the bridge building project will take the most amount of time. Student will probably need five days to complete it. This may seem like a lot of time, but if the project is going as it should, students should be very engaged and interested in taking the time to build the best possible bridge.
The project will culminate with a competition day: students will put their bridges to the test to see whose can hold the most weight.
The bridge building webquest is a great unit for any technology teacher to use in his or her classroom. It's relatively easy to do in that the information is fairly straightforward and the necessary materials are minimal and fairly inexpensive. The students are always on task, and the lesson is broken up into segments so the students are doing something different every day or so except for during the construction of the bridge. Because the end result is a competition and students are invested in winning, the engagement factor is high.